B vs. G

[Mike]

Well it's Christmas, and I just got my first router! (I know, i'm a geek)
It's a linksys wireless 802.11g All-in-one Internet-sharing Router, 4-port Switch, and Wireless-G Access Point. It's 54Mbps, so it's decently fast. My question is, whats the difference between a 802.11b and a 802.11g?

[Yan Wang]

A lot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.11g

[Andrew Rudolph]

Originally Posted by MikeWasHere05

Well it's Christmas, and I just got my first router!

did anyone else see that and think of the powertool?

[Erin Rapacki]

This is coincidental...

I'm living at my home in CT for the next six months, but I need internet on my personal computer for all the FIRST stuff I do. I currently use a Linksys Wireless-B router so I may have access to the internet in my bedroom; I set it up a few days ago. I have no idea how Wireless-G may be better than Wireless-B, maybe its faster and its signal goes farther... who knows? But I've been very happy with my Wireless-B and this is the second house its worked fine in.


erin

[Chris Bright]

I maybe wrong but I think this is the differance. wireless A is really fast but cannot go very far. Wireless B can travel a long way but is not as fast as A. Wireless G i belive combines the two so wireless will be as fast as A but can goes as far as B.

[Sscamatt]

Quick Overview:

802.11b = 11mbps, fair range (most popular, widely used)

802.11a = 22mbps, less range than b (came as a faster solution to b, not very popular, only advantage it works on the 5.8GHz band vs the 2.4Ghz band for all other specifications making it less susceptible to interference from microwaves and cordless phones, (but with 11 channels to choose from in the 2.4ghz range im sure you can find one thats not being used.)

802.11g = 54mbps, better range than b (backwards compatible with 802.11b, 802.11b devices can connect to 802.11g, so best choice for upgrading an 802.11b router with multiple computers.)

Super G (802.11g) = 108mbps (not truly 108mps) , range comparible to regular g

and the new weapon:

802.11n = 108mbps+, super range (backwards compatible with 802.11b, and 802.11g, making it the fastest and most versatile solution in the future, no IEEE standard set till mid-2006, but draft devices are being sold as "pre-n" now)

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Sscamatt

Quick Overview:

802.11b = 11mbps, fair range (most popular, widely used)

802.11a = 22mbps, less range than b (came as a faster solution to b, not very popular, only advantage it works on the 5.8GHz band vs the 2.4Ghz band for all other specifications making it less susceptible to interference from microwaves and cordless phones, (but with 11 channels to choose from in the 2.4ghz range im sure you can find one thats not being used.)

802.11g = 54mbps, better range than b (backwards compatible with 802.11b, 802.11b devices can connect to 802.11g, so best choice for upgrading an 802.11b router with multiple computers.)

Super G (802.11g) = 108mbps (not truly 108mps) , range comparible to regular g

and the new weapon:

802.11n = 108mbps+, super range (backwards compatible with 802.11b, and 802.11g, making it the fastest and most versatile solution in the future, no IEEE standard set till mid-2006, but draft devices are being sold as "pre-n" now)

802.11G and B both operate in the 2.4Ghz spectrum, making them vulnerable to interferance from 2.4Ghz cordless phones (most recent cordless phones are 2.4ghz) as well as microwaves. 802.11A is in the 5.8Ghz spectrum, meaning that those newer 5.8Ghz cordless phones interfere with it.

Usually you can minimize interference with channel settings, but I still notice a drop in signal strength (or total loss of signal) whenever someone answers the phone on a certain handset in my house.

Be wary of Super-G devices. It's not a IEEE ratified standard, so you're apt to get some variations from manufacturers. Best to stick to stuff that's standardized.